“Increase Arms Production,” the NATO Chief Informs Europe

In an interview that was released by German media on Saturday, NATO Secretary General Jensen urged Europe to boost armaments production in order to help Ukraine and avert “potentially decades of confrontation” with Moscow.

“We need to reconstitute and expand our industrial base faster, to increase deliveries to Ukraine and refill our own stocks,” Jens Stoltenberg said ahead of a crucial meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on the second anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war.

He said, “This means moving from slow peacetime to high-tempo conflict production,” to the Sunday newspaper Welt am Sonntag in Germany.

As Ukraine fights Russian troops for a third year, there are increasing calls for shells, ammunition, and other military supplies from the country. This coincides with Stoltenberg’s remarks.

Leaders in the West have likewise demanded more support. President Joe Biden and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany pleaded with US senators on Friday to approve a long-overdue military assistance package for Ukraine, stating that without it, Kyiv would not be able to repel an invasion by Russia.

“It’s almost criminal neglect that the US Congress has failed to support Ukraine,” Biden remarked on Friday when welcoming Scholz to the Oval Office.

“There is no imminent military threat against any ally,” said Stoltenberg. Simultaneously, the Kremlin often makes threats against NATO nations.

As the NATO leader said, “peace in Europe cannot be taken for granted” in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine over two years ago, underscoring the need of safeguarding member nations.

“We shall continue to deter any aggression as long as we invest in our security and we remain united,” he said.

“NATO does not intend to go to war with Russia, but we must prepare for what could be decades of conflict,” he said.

“We have stepped up our presence in the eastern part of the alliance and we closely monitor what Russia does,” Stoltenberg said.

“There is no assurance that Russian aggression won’t expand if Putin prevails in Ukraine. Thus, our greatest defense is to invest in NATO’s own capabilities and help Ukraine immediately.

One week before the second anniversary of Russia’s incursion in Ukraine, on February 15, NATO defense ministers will convene in Brussels. One of the main events of the negotiations will be a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.